Telegraph-key



(No Model.)

AJ. S. KAYLOR.

TELEGRAPE KEY.

Patented May 13, 1890.

ATTORNEYS.

mi Naam UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. KAYLOR, OF BISMARCK, ILLINOIS.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,876, dated May 13, 1890. Application filed August 26, 1889. Serial No. 322,043. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN S. KAYLOE, of Bismarck, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented' a new and Improved Telegraph-Key, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in which- Figure lis a perspective view of my improved telegraph-key. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line o: in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper part of one of the legs; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a contactspring attached to the bottom of the keyframe.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in all the views.

The object of my invention is to construct a telegraph-key in which the switch will not be liable to be opened accidentally, and in which the switchwill close automatically when released.

My invention consists in the combination, with the leg and contact-point of the key, of a sliding bolt, springcontacts arranged to form a positive electrical connection with the bolt, a spring for moving the bolt forward into the leg, a curved switch-lever for withdrawing the bolt from the leg, and a strap attached to the base and provided with a notch for receiving `and retaining the switcharm, all as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The frame A of the key consists of abaseplate a, provided with ears b. Between the said ears b is pivoted a 'key-lever B, the free end of which extends beyond the base-plate a, and is curved downwardly and provided with an insulating finger-piece C.

To the base-plate a is attached a lug c, which forms a support for one end of the spring CZ, the other end of which is received in the end of an adjustable screw c, passing through the key-lever B. Upon the screw e is placed a lock-nut f. To the baseplate a is attached an angled arm g, which extends over the keylever B, and is provided with a limitscrew h, which may be furnished with the usual loclcnut. The forward part of the baseplate a is provided with a square aperture fi, in which is placed a bushing j, of insulating material, and in the said bushing is inserted a leg 7c, which is provided at its upper end with a contact-point Z, which corresponds in position with the contact-point m, carried by the key-lever B. The leg 7e is threaded and provided with the usual wing-nut for clamping the table. It is also perforated transversely near its upper end and provided with a contact-spring n, attached to the side thereof and extendinginto the' perforations, as shown in Fig. 4.

In a guide o, formed on the base-plate a., is placed a bolt D, which extends toward the back of the key through a perforation p in the lug c. The bolt D is provided with a jaw q, between which and the lug c is placed a spiral spring fr, which surrounds the rear end of the bolt and tends to push the bolt forward into the perforation in the leg k.

Above the forward end of the base-plate a is arranged a curved bar E, provided with a notch s for receiving the curved switch-lever F. The said switch-lever is pivoted to the base-plate o and extends through the jaw q and underneath the bar E. Outside of the said bar the switch-lever is provided with an insulatingdiandle t, by which it may be moved. In a recess in the under surface of the baseplate a is secured a spring u, carrying at its free end a lug e, which extends upwardly through a hole in the base-plate and bears against the under surface of the bolt D. To the rear end of the baseplate is attached a leg w, which forms one of the connections of the key, and also serves to clamp it to the table. When the switch-lever F is moved back to openthe circuit', it is placed in the notch s, which retains the said switch-lever and keeps the circuit open, by holding the bolt D out of the perforation in the leg k. The cira cuit is closed automatically after the switcln lever F is releasedfrom the notch s.

In ordinary keys the switch-lever is often moved accidentally, so as to break the circuit, thereby causing a great deal of trouble. With my improvement, if the switch-lever should be moved a short distance accidentally, it will immediately return automatically to its closed position, thereby saving the annoy ance and expense occasioned by leaving the switch open. 1

ln addition to this advantage, the contactal ICG surfaces of the switch are covered, so as to protect them from dust or other accnnrulation that might prevent an electrical contact.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to Secure by Letters Patent-g I. In a tclcgraplrlccy, the combination, with the lower contact l, of a sliding spring-pressed bolt I), adapted to form a connection between the base-plate and the contact-point, and a lever F, pivotcd independently of the key-lever for operating thc bolt I), substantial] y as specified.

2. In a telegrapl1key,the combination, with the lower contact-point, of a sliding springpressed contact-making bolt, a enrvcd lever for moving Said bolt, and a notched bar for holding' the lever and bolt in a retracted position, substantially as specified.

In a telegraph-key, the combination of the frame A, the perforated leg k, provided with the Spring n, the insulatorj, and the sliding bolt D, substantially as specified.

4. In a telegraph-key, the combination of the frame A, the perforated leg 7i', provided with the spring n, the insnlatorj, the Sliding bolt I), and the contact-Spring u, substantially as Specified.

5. In a telegraph-key, the combination of the frame A, the perforated leg 7c, having a contact-point Z, sliding bolt D, contact-spring il, and the lever for operating said bolt, substantially as specified.

G. In a telegraph-key, the combination of the frame A, the perforated leg 7c, provided with the sp1-iugm, the insnlatorj, the sliding bolt I), provided With a socket in its upper face, the curved lever F, and the notched bar E, for locking said curved lever in its retracted position, substantially as specified.

7. In a telegraph-key, the combination, with the base-plate a, having the lower contactpoint l, of a sliding contact-making bolt,wl1ose movement is in the plane of the said bascplate or in a plane parallel therewith, Substantiaily as specified.

8. In atelegra'pl1-key,tl1e con'ibination, with lewercontact-point, of a sliding spring-pressed contact-making bolt, and a lever adapted to engage between its own ends the Said sliding bolt, substantially as speeiiied.

JOHN S. KAYLOR. \Vit11esses:

Ron'r. PHILLIPS, F. M. GUNDY. 

